PT PAL brings forward steel cutting for Indonesia's Scorpene programme

A PT PAL employee conducts metal fabrication work as the company prepares to begin construction of Indonesia's first Scorpene submarine. (PT PAL)

PT PAL has brought forward the steel-cutting milestone for Indonesia's Scorpene submarine programme.

The Indonesian shipbuilder said on 2 July that first steel cutting for the lead Scorpene submarine will now take place in July 2026, having previously been targeted for September 2026.

No specific date was provided, but PT PAL said the move reflects the readiness of its personnel to undertake the construction programme.

The announcement followed completion of the programme's qualification phase, a milestone intended to verify that PT PAL personnel can manufacture submarine structures in accordance with Naval Group's standards.

According to the company, Indonesian engineers and technicians have undergone training at Naval Group facilities in France covering welding, construction engineering, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and quality assurance.

The contract for Indonesia's Scorpene programme was signed in March 2024 between the country's Ministry of Defence, Naval Group, and PT PAL.

Both submarines will be built in Indonesia at PT PAL's dedicated submarine construction facilities with technology-transfer support from the French shipbuilder.

Indonesia's submarines will be based on Naval Group's Evolved Scorpene design, which incorporates lithium-ion battery technology in place of earlier generations of air-independent propulsion systems.

The design has a submerged displacement of about 2,000 tonnes, an overall length of approximately 70 m, and a crew complement of about 40 personnel.

The submarines will be equipped with six 533 mm torpedo tubes capable of launching heavyweight torpedoes and anti-ship missiles, and will be fitted with Naval Group's SUBTICS combat management system.

For more, please see: Indonesia's contract for two Scorpene Evolved SSKs enters into force